Soft colors. The cottage palette is usually light and airy, and kitchens follow suit. It’s hard to go wrong with crisp, classic white, but soft yellow, pale turquoise or light khaki all look fresh and appropriate as well. Or try a mix of cabinetry colors: one shade on the island with a contrasting hue on the cabinets.

Balance and harmony. The Asian aesthetic places a strong emphasis on harmony, in terms of materials as well as design. Pay attention to balancing visual elements such as color, form and weight. In this kitchen the dark range hood offsets the island, and the lighter ceiling beams echo the cabinetry.